Asialink



A Secret History of Blue and White

ARTISTS: Stephen Benwell, Robin Best, Bronwyn Kemp, Vipoo Srivilasa Gerry Wedd

CURATOR: Stephen Bowers, Managing Director, JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design

A Secret History of Blue and White highlights the diversity and strength of Australian ceramics and positions it within European and Asian ceramic histories. While the reputation of Australian craft has grown steadily in Europe and North America, Asialink acknowledges the importance of sharing these developments within our region.

Curator Stephen Bowers has commissioned and selected works by prominent artists including Stephen Benwell, Robin Best, Bronwyn Kemp, Vipoo Srivilasa and Gerry Wedd. Each artist explores the potency of ‘blue and white’ within their practice, acknowledging its historical weight and cultural clichs. Bowers explores the assumptions and ceramic histories associated with ‘blue and white’ from the willow patterns of Europe to the treasured porcelains of China. Bowers also brings into focus the impact of technology and trade, revealing its effect on the development, interpretation and evolution of designs and patterns through to a secret history of the hand made object.

This project is a joint project between JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design and Asialink at The University of Melbourne.

This project acknowledges with gratitude the support of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Images of Australia Branch for their role in the development of this project.

 
Bronwyn Kemp - Banksia Dish 1995-96

Bronwyn Kemp
(left) Banksia Dish
1995-96
porcelain with underglaze, cobalt blue pigment
310 x 305 x 90mm
(right) Grevillea Dish
1995
porcelain with underglaze, cobalt blue pigment, 310x220x45mm

photo: Grant Hancock

Robin Best - Silk Route 2006

Robin Best
Silk Route

2006
unglazed cast porcelain in ceramic pencil,
dimensions variable

photo: Grant Hancock

Gerry Wedd - Arcadia 2004

Gerry Wedd
Arcadia
2006
hand-built, oxidation fired, cobalt underglze, dimensions variable

Photo: Grant Hancock

Vipoo Srivilasa - Five Open Doors 2 2006 Stephen Benwell - Vase(2) 2006

Vipoo Srivilasa
Five open Doors 2
2006
Cool Ice Porcelain
240 x 130 x 130 mm
Courtesy: Uber Gallery, Australia and Surapon Gallery, Thailand
Photo: Grant Hancock

Stephen Benwell
Vase
2006
hand built porcelain underglaze painting
460 x 140 mm
Courtesy: Niagara Galleries, Australia
Photo: David McArthur

Exhibition dates & venues:

Hanoi, 12 – 26 September, 2006 Vietnam Fine Arts Museum
Singapore, 19 April - 7 May, 2007 Arts House
Bangkok, 7 February - 3 March, 2007 - Silpakorn University
Beijing, September 2007
Guangzhou, November 2007